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NewsThursday January 9th, 2014, 4:42pm

Emanuel Wants Delay Before Gun Dealers Can Set Up Shop

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is seeking a six-month reprieve before being forced to allow gun dealers to set up shop in the city. The mayor wants to use the time to determine which locations are best for the gun peddlers to open up their businesses.

On Monday, a federal judge ruled that Chicago's ban on gun sales "goes too far." As a result, city officials must determine how it will allow for gun sales to take place within the municipality. The judge left the window open for the city to appeal the decision, but in a press conference Thursday, the mayor did not appear ready to take the issue to court.

“The court’s been clear — from the [U.S.] Supreme Court on down — as it relates to peoples’ access to guns ... There’s a number of gun laws on the books in Chicago that we have lost in court. I’m not interested in litigation for the purpose of litigation,” Emanuel said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“The court set up a set of boundaries ... While we have to abide by the straitjacket the court put us under — in my view, that’s a straitjacket — it’s not like there’s a shortage of guns. People get access to guns. But, I’m going to try to do it in a thoughtful way and a strategic way that doesn’t undermine what we’re trying to do in bringing a level of safety and security to the people of Chicago,” he continued.

Outside of banning gun sales near schools, Emanuel has not yet detailed any other areas in which he plans to restrict dealers from doing business.